Stopper or closure for containers



Febf 2351;-1932.- F. L oBL STOPPER OR CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Nov.24, 195o Patented Feb; 23, 1932 FREDERICK LOBL, OF .MIDDIiEBOl-to,MASSACHUSETTS sToPPER, on cLosUnn ron CONTAINERS Application medNovember 24, 1930. seriai No. 497,865.

- This invention relates generally to a stopper or `closure for allkinds'of receptacles, particularly those designed to contain water orother liquids, and more especially is intended for use as a closure forthe filling opening lof a rubber bag or other receptacle for holdingcrushed ice.. As is known, such other places in the care and treatmentof sick persons, and the stopper of such a bag, to be effective, mustmake a substantially hermetic closure or seal with the filling openingin order that there shall beno opportunity for leakage of the contentswhen the bag is in use. p

This invention is an improvement onmy stopper which is shown anddescribed in my Patent No. 1,640,508, patented August 80, 1927. Thestopper described in this patent was `composed of three elements,namely, a hollowT threaded'body element, a cover element and a washerelement. The body element has an outwardly Vflaring flexible flange ltothe under surface of which the sealing washer-kwas' secured by means ofla downturned flange on the periphery of the cover element to clamp allof the elements' together.

With this construction, the possibility exists that the grip upon thewasher may loosen after constant wear or abuse, or if the washerbeforcibly `pulledlout, the cover or body elements may have a tendency totwist .or to slide relative to each other due to their circular shape.In this event, it might be diiicult to unscrew ithe stopper from itssocket. l

By the present invention, I have eliminated the circular top coverelement which served to grip the washer and the lower bodyv elementtogether. I now provide on the closure or -body element itself, vmeansfor securing or clamping the washer to the flange thereof. a, The outerperiphery of the flange" of Vthisbody element is down-turned to securelygrip the washer which -encircles the body element. Y

Hence, it is the object of the' present invention to provide a closurewhich is simple in construction wherein the hollow body member itselfserves to seal the washer and thereby the possibility of twisting,whereV two metal elements are used for clamping the sealing washer, iseliminated.

For a better understanding of my invention reference may be had to theaccom- 'panying drawings in which: a bag is commonly used in hospitalsand Fig. 1 is a plan view of the preferred form of stopper embodying thepresent invention and having a part of the structure removed toillustrate the flange clamping construction;

Fig. 2 is a view in cross-section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view in section showing a modilication, differing from Fig.2 in that the washer bears against a flat under surface of the flexibleflange on the. closure element.

Referring to the figures, my stopper comprises, in general, a closure orbody element 1, a sealing washer Qand an inverted cup-shaped member 3serving to enclose the hollowed portion of the body element 1. Y

The body element 1 and the cup-shaped element 3, as in the case of thestopper described in the above-mentioned patent, are made of suitablethin sheet metalwhich can be easily pressed or spun into the desiredshape. The

sealing washer 2 is preferably of rubber or otherpsuitable yieldingpacking material.

rlhe closure or body element 1 has an outwardly flaring, easily flexed,continuous Vflange or sealing portion L1 at the top thereof Yand aclosing portion 5 serving to perform thel main closing function of mystopper, and is also threaded to be adapted to be screwed v into theopening in a container, indicated at 8.

The'flange 4 carries the washer 2, which is permanently clamped theretoby means of an integraldepending portion@ of the flange; and also hasformed therein a continuous circular bead 7 which project-s downwardlyto form a circular projection on the bottom surface of the flange. Thewasher is hence so retained against the under surface of the flange 4 asto be in a downwardly inclined position. a y

The closure element 1,'on being screwed into the container opening,seats the washer 2 6 may slope outwardly..andzupwardly.to laid inproviding for the maintenance of the washer 2 in an inclined position;x-The'amount of the inclination may also depend upon the slope of thecont-acting surface of 'the container opening to be sealed. However,the.

piecise-shapeis somewhat immaterialv for it may slope downwardlyif forthe. particular slope of the contacting surface the downward sloping `ofthe flangewouldprovide for increased .backing pressure on the ointandvincrease the effectiveness -of the seal.

InA the modification shown in Fig. i3, the

flange 4 has no circular bead-projecting por" r tion and is entirelyflat on the undersurface.. An effective backing and sealing pressure isalso provided with this construction. should-also be understoodthat the.flange et of this construction may slope upwardly or downwardlydepending upon the slope of the contacting surface of the containeropening.

if it Vshould be necessary to augment the backing or sealingpressure.`

The inverted cup-shaped member 8 has a downwardly-extending.screw-threaded :walll 3a and the threads thereof conforniwith the innersurface of the threaded pressure..ele-.

ment 1' to fix the inverted cup .element 3 there to. .This inverted cupelementi?) serves to enclose the hollow closure element l to provideaninsulating space to prevent the trans-- fer of heat through the stopperconstruction.v

This vfeature-prevents the stopper from be-V coming too. coldwhen'usedwith an .ice-container or too hot wheniised with a hot-water bagi. Italso1serves to'lillfthecavity in the stopper and therebyimproves theappearance thereof.

rlhe wall 3a of the member 3 neednot necessarily be screw-threaded butmay be suhstantially straight and form. a pressed lit with the threadedcavityof the .body element l and will be held in place by friction.

t may be seen that-I have provided an improved means for maintaining thesealing washer within my stopper which is simple in construction andwherebythe twisting of the gripped portion of the stopper relative tothe threaded portion is obviated.

I claim as my invention 1. A stopper for containers comprising a closureelement having both a threaded portion to engage the container openingAand a. yieldable portion adapted to: flex .when the stopper istightened, a sealing washer, and

means integral with said yieldable portion whereby said sealing washeris clamped to the stopper.

2. A stopper for containers comprising aclosure element having bothathreaded portion to engage the container opening and an integralyieldable peripheral flange. overlyingthe edge of `thecontainer opening,and a sealing washer, said flange having an integral portion down-turnedin such a manner as .to 'permanently `holdls'aid washer in position.

3. A 4stopperf'for containers comprising a sheet-metal closure elementhaving a threaded central portion anda peripheral flange, a sealingwasheiyand means integral with said'- flange .whereby said sealingwasher is clamped to the stopper.

4. A stopper for containers comprising a hollow sheet-metalclosureelement having a yieldable portion overlying the .edge of the container.opening, a sealing washer, means integral-with said yieldable portionfor clampingsaid washer. to the stopper, and? an inverted4 cup-sliapedmember adapted to.

fit tightly .within said hollow closure member :and thereby provide.for: an insulating space within the stoppen.

5. A stopper for containers comprisinga hollow threaded closure elementhavingan :outwardly extending. easily flexed flange-,za

yieldable washerv encircling said] threaded element and contacting withthe under sur.- face of said flange,said ilangehaving a-doWn-. turnededge at theV outer periphery thereof'` of such. formas to permanentlyvclamp saidv Washer4 to the underV surface `of the flange constituting aflexible backingfor the washer. and an inverted cup-shaped member forclosing said hollow closure member to .provide aninsulating spacetherein, having external vthreads adapted to engage with theinternalthread surface of the threaded closure mem-` ber for securing said cupthereto.

6. A stopper for containers comprising. a closure element havingacentral threaded Vportion vand an 4outwardly flaring, easilyV flexedflange, a circulaidheadv formed in the flange, to' constitute acontinuouscircular rib proJecting from the under surface there-` of asealing washer encircling said closurev Y element and contacting withthe rib on its under surface, said closure element having integral meansfor securing said washer to-said flange, withfthe 'washer heldin adownwardly inclined positionf between said se- .Curing means andtheresilient backing of the flexible flange,whereby a tightening `of thestopper.v in the container-'flexes the flange and a continual pressureis exerted upon theh washer by the flange.

7.'A stopper for containers comprising al hollow threaded .closureelement having lan outwardly-extending 4easily flexed flange, a circularbead formed in the flange to constitute a continuous circular ribprojecting from the under surface thereof, a sealing washer encirclingsaid threaded closure element and contacting with the rib on its undersurface, said flange having its outer periphery down-turned for grippingsaid washer to said ange, with the washer held in a downwardly inclinedposition between the down-turned peripher and the resilient backing ofthe fiexible ange whereby a tightening of the stopper in the containerleXes the iange and a continual pressure is exerted upon the washer bythe ange and an inverted cup-shaped member for closing said hollowclosure member to provide an insulating space therein, having externalthreads adapted to engage with the internal thread surface of thethreaded closure member for securing said cup thereto.

FREDERICK LOBL.

